Amalgamator



Jan. 26, 1937. J. w. THOMPSON 2,068,896

AMLGAMATOR Filed April 9, 1935 2 sheets-sheet 1 D a e-/ 5 3mm 25 James W mm/fma/L @2513 m @nauw/w AND SOV-@ SULIUS.

Jan. 26, 1937. .1. w. THOMPSON 2,068,896

AMALGAMATOR Filed April 9, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N D ASS-UH'NG SUM Patented Jan. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AMALGAMATOR Nev.

Application April 9, 1935, Serial No. 15,476

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an amalgamating apparatus designed for the extraction of precious metals such as gold and silver from their ores, the latter preferably being pulverized.

It is aimed to provide a novel construction wherein the pulverized ore is blown into contact with the amalgam.

Another object is to provide a novel construction wherein the amalgam is subjected to a current of electricity, by submerging the terminals of the circuit in the amalgam.

'I'he more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:-

Figure l is a view of the apparatus in side elevation;

Figure 2 is a plan view of said apparatus;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 o1' Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring specifically to the drawings, I0 designates a conventional supporting frame adapted to rest on any desired structure or means of support. On the frame I0, a suitable prime mover such for instance as an internal combustion engine II is carried whose crank or drive shaft is designated I2 and has a pulley I3 thereon. {Irained over said pulley is a belt I4 in turn trained over a pulley I5 keyed on the rotor shaft I6 of a blower I1 supported on a superstructure I8 connected to the frame III. Said blower I1 by means of an elbow I9 communicates with an ore feeding conduit 20, which through an elbow 2| communicates with an elbow 22 leading to the wall of a casing'23 to a removable crucible or pot 24 containing an amalgam 25 such as quicksilver, lead or the like.

A feed hopper for the ore, preferably in a pulverized condition, is shown at 26 communicating through a reduced pipe 21 with the conduit 20, adjacent the blower |1 and in which a valve 28 is located for manual operation to regulate the quantity of pulverized ore permitted to enter the conduit 20. 'Ihus it will be realized that the blower I1 blows, at any desired velocity, the pulverized ore which enters the conduit 20, through such conduit, elbows 2| and 22, into the amalgam 2l.

Said pot or crucible 24 removably rests on the top of a tubular drum 29 fastened as at 30 to the casing 23. Said drum is open at both ends and in the lower end a burner 3| is disposed. Such burner may be of a conventional type and for instance is a gas burner, in communication 5 through a conduit 32 with a source of gasoline or other hydrocarbon supply 33, such fuel being under pressure, the supply or tank 33 having, for instance, a hand pump 34v in communication therewith through the medium of a conduit 35, 10 so that the desired pressure may be maintained.

Said casing 23 is maintained air-tight and it has a door 36 at one end thereof covering a port or opening through which the pot or crucible 24 may be removed. Door 36 is preferably hinged 15 in place at 31 and maintained closed by a latch 38.

The feed conduit preferably extends below the level of the amalgam 25 and at the lower end has a section 3S removably telescoped over the lower end of the elbow 22 and held in place by the binding action of a set screw 40 thereagainst. 'I'he removal of the section 39 or raising thereof facilitates the removal and replacement of the pot or crucible 24. 25

The pulverized ore is blown into the amalgam 25 through the action of the blower I1, and the precious metal contained in the pulverized ore is extracted and the residue isblown upwardly from the hopper 24, passing the upper edge there- 30 of and falling into the casing 23 and augmented by the action of the blower I1, passing therefrom to a discharge pipe 4I to any desired location.

Said shaft I2 through the medium of a pulley 35 43, drives a belt 44, in turn trained over a pulley on the shaft of an electric generator 46, suitably supported on the frame I0. One circuit wire from the generator 46 passes through a mounting and insulator plug 41 and the other terminal 40 passes through a mounting and insulating plug 48. Such plugs 41 and 48 are insulated from and located in the wall of the crucible or pot 24 and the conductors from said generator 46 pass through the plugs 41 and 48 and terminate out 45 of contact with each other but submerged in the amalgam as at 49 and 50. A lining of mica or other insulating material is provided in the crucible or pot 24 at 5I, to contain the amalgam as shown. I nd that the passage of an electric cur- 50 rent to the amalgam by the means shown, agitates it and magnetizes it and generally aids in the extraction of the precious metal from the ores.

Attention is also called to the fact that the action of the pulverized ore within the amalgam is increased by having such pot of greater diameter at the center than at the top and bottom, as shown. Such shape causes the quicksilver or amalgam to cone in the center. This shape makes its practically impossible for the quicksilver or liquid lead or other amalgam to be blown over the edge of the pot or Crucible.

It will be realized that the present invention is a dry type of amalgamator. While in operation, the Quicksilver or other amalgam is treated hourly, for example, with a mixture of charcoal and ashes in the proportion of a pound of the mixture to forty pounds of the amalgam. The charcoal and ashes are used in equal proportions. The lye from the charcoal and ashes resists all acids or foreign matter that might be harmful to fast amalgamation. The heat produced from the burner 3| is used to reduce the resistance in order to save the nest particles of precious metal, the burner being capable of regulation of the heat outward.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:-

An amalgamating apparatus of the class described having a casing provided with an outlet, a support in said casing, a crucible removably disposed on said support, amalgam in said Crucible, an ore supply conduit extending through the Wall of the casing and depending into the casing, a blower connected to said conduit, said crucible being open at the upper part for free overow of gangue and being removable by lateral movement between the support and conduit, said crucible being in line with said conduit, a. conduit member telescoped over the lower extremity of the rst-mentioned conduit normally extending into the Crucible with its lower end adjacent the surface of the amalgam, and means to secure the conduit member in a position extending into the Crucible and in a position retracted with respect to the Crucible so that the latter may be removed.

JAMES W. THOMPSON. 

